Description
A flaw was found in xorg-x11-server before 1.20.3. An incorrect permission check for -modulepath and -logfile options when starting Xorg. X server allows unprivileged users with the ability to log in to the system via physical console to escalate their privileges and run arbitrary code under root privileges.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | xorg-server | 2:1.20.3-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | xorg-server | 2:1.20.3-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | xorg-server | 2:1.20.3-1 | — |
| Debian 9 | xorg-server | 2:1.19.2-1+deb9u4 | DSA-4328-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | xorg-server | 2:1.19.6-1ubuntu4.2 | USN-3802-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | xorg-server-hwe-16.04 | 2:1.19.6-1ubuntu4.1~16.04.2 | USN-3802-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | xorg-x11-server +9 | 1.20.1-5.1.el7 | RHSA-2018:3410 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 | xorg-x11-server | 1.19.6-8.3.2 | SUSE-SU-2018:3680-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | xorg-x11-server | 7.4-27.122.21.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:3456-1 |
| SLES 11 SP3 | xorg-x11-server | 7.4-27.122.21.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:3456-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | xorg-x11-server | 7.4-27.122.21.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:3456-1 |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 11 SP3 | xorg-x11-server | 7.4-27.122.21.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:3456-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | xorg-x11-server | 1.20.13-1.2 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11525-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | xorg-server | 1.20.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | xorg-server | 1.20.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | xorg-server | 1.20.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | xorg-server | 1.20.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | xorg-server | 1.20.3-r0 | — |
Show 14 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | xorg-server | 1.20.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | xorg-server | 1.20.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | xorg-server | 1.20.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | xorg-server | 1.20.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | xorg-server | 1.20.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | xorg-server | 1.20.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | xorg-server | 1.20.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.12 | xorg-server | 1.20.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.11 | xorg-server | 1.20.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.10 | xorg-server | 1.20.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.9 | xorg-server | 1.20.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.8 | xorg-server | 1.19.6-r3 | — |
| Alpine v3.7 | xorg-server | 1.19.5-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.6 | xorg-server | 1.19.5-r1 | — |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | xorg-x11-server-Xdmx +8 | 1.20.1-5.1.el7 | ELSA-2018-3410 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Metasploit 3 modules
-
Xorg X11 Server Local Privilege Escalation
exploit/aix/local/xorg_x11_server
-
Xorg X11 Server SUID logfile Privilege Escalation
exploit/multi/local/xorg_x11_suid_server
-
Xorg X11 Server SUID modulepath Privilege Escalation
exploit/multi/local/xorg_x11_suid_server_modulepath
Exploit-DB 8
- Xorg X11 Server - Local Privilege Escalation (Metasploit) EDB-47701 · local · Nov 20, 2019 · verified
- xorg-x11-server < 1.20.3 (Solaris 11) - 'inittab Local Privilege Escalation EDB-46142 · local · Jan 14, 2019
- Xorg X11 Server (AIX) - Local Privilege Escalation EDB-45938 · local · Dec 4, 2018
- xorg-x11-server < 1.20.3 - 'modulepath' Local Privilege Escalation EDB-45922 · local · Nov 30, 2018
- Xorg X11 Server - SUID privilege escalation (Metasploit) EDB-45908 · local · Nov 26, 2018 · verified
- xorg-x11-server < 1.20.1 - Local Privilege Escalation EDB-45832 · local · Nov 13, 2018
- xorg-x11-server 1.20.3 - Privilege Escalation EDB-45742 · local · Oct 30, 2018
- xorg-x11-server < 1.20.3 - Local Privilege Escalation EDB-45697 · local · Oct 25, 2018
GitHub 2 repositories
-
jas502n/CVE-2018-14665 ★ 17 · Oct 27, 2018
OpenBsd_CVE-2018-14665
-
bolonobolo/CVE-2018-14665 ★ 0 · Nov 2, 2018
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 7
- RHSA-2018:3410 Red Hat Security Advisory: xorg-x11-server security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- USN-3802-1 xorg-server, xorg-server-hwe-16.04 vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DSA-4328-1 xorg-server - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11525-1 xorg-x11-server-1.20.13-1.2 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:3456-1 Security update for xorg-x11-server SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:3680-1 Security update for xorg-x11-server SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2018-3410 Important: xorg-x11-server security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Nov 7, 2018
References
- 45742 exploit
- [xorg-announce] 20181025 X.Org security advisory: October 25, 2018 mailing-list
- 45922 exploit
- USN-3802-1 vendor-advisory
- https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/xorg/xserver/commit/50c0cf885a6e91c0ea71fb49fa8f1b7c86fe330e
- 45697 exploit
- RHSA-2018:3410 vendor-advisory
- 105741 vdb-entry
- 45908 exploit
- https://www.securepatterns.com/2018/10/cve-2018-14665-xorg-x-server.html
- 46142 exploit
- GLSA-201810-09 vendor-advisory
- 1041948 vdb-entry
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2018-14665
- 45832 exploit
- https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/xorg/xserver/commit/8a59e3b7dbb30532a7c3769c555e00d7c4301170
- 45938 exploit
- DSA-4328 vendor-advisory
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154942/Xorg-X11-Server-SUID-modulepath-Privilege-Escalation.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/155276/Xorg-X11-Server-Local-Privilege-Escalation.html